Story and photos by Sgt. David A. Scott
196th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment
13th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary) Public Affairs

CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE SPEICHER, Iraq — As the upcoming responsible drawn down of U.S. troops and equipment from Iraq approaches, the transfer of personnel and cargo out of theater is expected to increase in tempo gradually.

One transportation unit at Contingency Operating Base Speicher, Iraq is already prepared for the surge in cargo movements associated with what could prove to be one of the largest redeployments in Army history.

The 2101st Transportation Company, 541st Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 3rd Sustainment Brigade, 13th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary) arrived in Iraq in March after mobilization training at Army Support Activity-Dix on Joint Base Maguire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J.

The more than 200 Soldiers with the 2101st Trans. Co. are predominantly motor vehicle operators and mechanics responsible for supervising or operating the medium-or heavy-wheeled vehicles used to transport personnel and cargo.

First Sgt. Travis Jernigan, first sergeant with the 2101st Trans. Co. and a Clayton, Ala., native, said the mission of the company is determined by the transportation movement releases that are submitted.

“It just depends on what needs to be hauled,” he said. “Having a flatbed mission at the time, we haul pretty much whatever needs to be moved. If it is rolling stock, lumber or whatever it is, it’s what we haul.”

Jernigan, who works for a trucking firm when not on active duty, said the members of the unit rotate their work schedules between convoys and supporting convoys, with little free time.

“At the moment, you can expect a Soldier to be on the road, maybe two days in a row,” he said. “When not on the road, the Soldier is here helping to load the cargo that needs to be shipped. A day off is something sparse.”

Jernigan said despite the heavy workload, the Soldiers under his charge continue to have high morale during their missions because it is relatively similar to what they do in the civilian world.

“Overall, the Soldiers, when they are on the mission, have a good feeling about it,” he said. “They enjoy it. They would rather be on the road than on the (base). It’s what most of them were trained to do and we have several members who, in the civilian world, are actually truck drivers.”

First Lt. John Hargray, Jr., a quartermaster officer with the 2101st Trans. Co. and a Troy, Ala., native said the busy Transportation Corps unit continues to adapt to the multi-mission roles that it often receives.

“It’s been pretty good overall, but it has been kind of rough with us running back-to-back missions,” he said. “Overall, this unit has been quite flexible with all the changes that have come down.”

Staff Sgt. Don Anderson, a motor vehicle operator with the 2101st Trans. Co. said he volunteered for this deployment. Anderson, a veteran of the Army and the National Guard for more than 33 years, said the 2101st Trans. Co. has already been notified to prepare for an increased workload due to the drawdown.

“We have already been told we’re going to be busier. By the end of July we will be pretty strung out with our current missions and the additional heavy equipment transporter missions,” Anderson said. “We’ll be ready. I’m always ready.”

In Iraq, the 2101st Trans. Co. is known for operating convoy movements from COB Speicher to locations throughout Iraq. But in the unit’s home state of Alabama, it is recognized for its response to an emergency situation during their pre-mobilization period.

“We had a training mission on a weekend in July of 2009 at Camp Shelby, Miss., and the busload that had the personnel for the detachment going back to Aliceville, Ala., witnessed a church bus accident,” Jernigan said. “They stopped and rendered aid, actually performed some triage, set up a triage station and aided the emergency personnel and the local law enforcement. They were able to aid them and save quite a few lives.”

Alabama Gov. Bob Riley awarded 47 Alabama Commendation Medals to unit members for their actions that day. In addition, those who stepped up and took on command and control responsibilities at the scene of the accident received Meritorious Service Medals or Army Achievement Medals, Jernigan said.

Whether in Iraq or Alabama, Soldiers with the 2101st Trans. Co. work to ensure those around them are well-cared for. In their current mission, that work will set the conditions for the future success of Iraq.

First Sgt. Travis Jernigan (far left), first sergeant with the 2101st Transportation Company, 541st Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 3rd Sustainment Brigade, 13th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary) and a Clayton, Ala., native, monitors the information being given in a morning briefing June 17 before a convoy movement out of Contingency Operating Base Speicher, Iraq. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. David A. Scott)

Spc. Darrel Bradford (right), a motor vehicle operator with the 2101st Transportation Company, 541st Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 3rd Sustainment Brigade, 13th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary) and a Birmingham, Ala., native, and Anthony Godwin (left), also a motor vehicle operator with the 2101st Trans. Co. and a McKenzie, Ala., native, work together to adjust chains used to fasten cargo to a truck June 17 at Contingency Operating Base Speicher, Iraq. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. David A. Scott)